Southland voters may not have much impact on whether Democrats take control of the U.S. House of Representatives — one of the big story lines of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

But some south suburban voters could help determine whether Democrats achieve a supermajority in the state legislature. Voters in several south suburban towns also will decide important referendum questions that could directly impact their daily lives, pocketbooks and local politics.

In Dolton, for example, residents will vote on three binding ballot initiatives that ask whether the village should eliminate its primary election, reduce the number of trustees from to four from six, and prevent trustees — but not the mayor or clerk — from serving more than two consecutive terms.

At a news conference outside Dolton Village Hall on Thursday, trustees urged residents to vote “no” to all three questions. Several supporters placed tape over their mouths to symbolize repression. They described the measures as an attempted power grab by Mayor Riley Rogers.

Riley attended the event and told me voters in the town of about 23,000 residents would have their say on Tuesday.

“It’s up to residents to decide,” Riley said. “Why is it (trustees are) afraid to listen to residents?”

If approved, Dolton trustees who were elected to four-year terms in 2017 would have to seek re-election in April.

Ted Slowik/Daily Southtown

Dolton Mayor Riley Rogers stands near Dolton Village Hall on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, where trustees and others held a press conference to urge residents to vote "no" on three referendum questions Nov. 6.

In Flossmoor, voters in the town of 19,000 will decide an advisory referendum that asks whether the village should lift its longstanding restrictions on parking personal-use pickup trucks on residential driveways.

Village officials have said based on the results of the referendum, the village could revise a zoning ordinance that prohibits residents and visitors from parking pickup trucks on driveways except for loading and unloading. Commercial vehicles would still be banned.

Palos Heights is asking voters whether the village should allow video gaming. Lemont wants residents to weigh in on whether the village should become home rule. Proposed tax-rate increases are on ballots in the Tinley Park Park District and New Lenox and North Palos fire protection districts.

Incumbent Democrats are expected to hold on to the three Congressional seats that represent parts of the Southland. Bobby Rush, D-Chicago, has represented the 1st District since 1993. Rush is challenged by Republican Jimmy Lee Tillman III and independent Thomas Rudbeck.

Robin Kelly, D-Matteson, has represented the 2nd District since 2013. She’s challenged by Republican David Merkle of Bourbonnais.

Dan Lipinski, D-Western Springs, has represented the 3rd District since 2005. Lipinski narrowly withstood a primary challenge from progressive Marie Newman of LaGrange.

On Tuesday Lipinski is challenged by Republican Art Jones of Lyons. Jones has been denounced as a Nazi by Republican Party leaders.

Independents Justin Hanson, of LaGrange, and Kenneth Yerkes, of Oak Lawn, are running as write-ins.

In the race for governor, several polls show Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker with a double-digit lead over first-term Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner. Conservative Sam McCann and Libertarian Kash Jackson also are in the race.

Polls also show state Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, with a lead over Republican Erika Harold in the race for Illinois attorney general. Libertarian Bubba Harsy also is in the race. Democrat Lisa Madigan did not seek re-election after serving four terms.

In other statewide races, Democrat Jesse White seeks another term as secretary of state, a post he’s held since 1999. He’s challenged by Republican Jason Helland and Libertarian Steve Dutner.

A local contest could factor into whether Democrats are able to regain a 71-seat supermajority in the Illinois House. Democrats held a supermajority until 2016, when Republican gains whittled the Democrats to 68 seats.

Margo McDermed, R-Mokena, has represented the 37th District since 2015 and faces a challenge from Democrat Matthew J. Hunt of Frankfort.

Most state legislative offices representing the Southland are uncontested. In the 85th District, incumbent state Rep. John Connor, D-Romeoville, faces a challenge from Republican Lisa Bickus of Lockport. In the 35th District, incumbent state Rep. Frances Ann Hurley, D-Chicago, is challenged by Republican Herbert Hebein of Chicago.

The 41st state Senate district covers part of Homer Glen and Lemont. Incumbent Republican John Curran of Downers Grove is challenged by Democrat Bridget Fitzgerald of Western Springs.

One race for a seat on the 17-member Cook County Board affects part of the Southland. In the 17th District, Republican incumbent Sean Morrison of Palos Park faces a challenge from Democrat Abdelnasser Rashid of Justice.

Chicago Democratic incumbents Stanley Moore and Deborah Sims are unopposed in the 4th and 5th districts, respectively. In the 6th District, Democrat Ed Moody did not seek election to a full term after he was appointed to serve the remainder of the late Joan Murphy’s term.

Donna Miller, of Lynwood, won the Democratic primary for the 6th District seat in March over Crestwood Mayor Lou Presta and Murphy’s daughter, Patricia Joan Murphy. Miller is unopposed in Tuesday’s general election.

Four contests for Will County Board seats affect parts of the Southland. In a three-way race for two seats in District 9, incumbent Annette Parker, R-Crest Hill, faces Democratic challengers Jim Murphy and Rachel Ventura, both of Joliet.

Current District 9 board member Lauren Staley-Ferry is the Democratic nominee for county clerk in a race against Republican Laurie McPhillips. Nancy Schultz Voots is retiring after four terms.

In District 7, 23-year-old Democrat Kyle Killacky of Homer Glen is challenging the two Republican incumbents, Steve Balich of Orland Park and Mike Fricilone of Homer Glen.

In District 1, incumbents Judy Ogalla, R-Monee, and Laurie Summers, D-Crete, are in a three-way race for two seats with Democratic challenger Bob Howard of Beecher.

In District 2, board member Cory Singer lost in the March Republican primary. Incumbent Jim Moustis, R-Frankfort, is in a three-way race for two seats with Republican Keith Ogle and Democrat Amanda Koch, both of Frankfort.

For Will County sheriff, Democratic incumbent Mike Kelley of Lockport is challenged by Republican Jim Reilly of Wilmington. For county treasurer, incumbent Republican Steve Weber of Mokena faces a challenge from Democrat Tim Brophy of Joliet.

Most county-wide offices in Cook County are uncontested. For assessor, Democratic nominee Fritz Kaegi is challenged by Republican Joseph Paglia to replace Joseph Barrios, who lost to Kaegi in the March primary.

Cook County residents will choose from Democratic, Republican and Green Party candidates for seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board. Residents in Cook and Will counties will decide several contests for judgeships and whether other judges should be retained.